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The threatened closure of Kilbowie outdoor education centre is to be opposed by North Lanarkshire’s SNP councillors.

Members of the authority’s policy and strategy committee will be asked on Friday to decide whether to shut the facility in Oban – which provides week-long outdoor education experiences for Primary Seven pupils from across Monklands and the wider council area – in order to save £818,000 per year.

Opposition group members have now stated that they are backing the retention of the centre and the current subsidies for pupils attending courses there, with depute group leader Jordan Linden saying: “We will not vote to close Kilbowie on Friday, and we will safeguard it in our budget too.”

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He will be proposing at Friday’s meeting that the council “agree to support a long-term future for Kilbowie outdoor centre and thus to fund the continuation of the centre and its associated subsidy levels”.

The amendment, seconded by group leader Tom Johnston, also states that the report provides insufficient detail on alternative plans for outdoor and residential accommodation.

Councillor Linden said: “We are united with the public in being fed up of seeing Kilbowie outdoor centre facing closure, fed up of fighting for [it] time and time again – we should not have to.

“We should not have to defend the rights of children to gain confidence-building skills that will have major benefits to their learning and their life; [and] we are frustrated at repeating this every year.

“Kilbowie provides young people with an enhanced learning opportunity; we should be investing in our children‘s future, to get it right for every child and deliver opportunities that shape a lifetime.

“We call on Labour to join with us and rule out the closure of Kilbowie.”

A report for councillors notes that “members rejected the budget savings proposal to close Kilbowie in 2019 and requested a wider review of outdoor education provision to examine future models and options” – and adds: “The reality of the current budgetary environment, and planned developments of parks in North Lanarkshire, have created a context in which the Kilbowie offering requires to be fully and finally reconsidered.”

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Closure of the centre was previously considered in both 2018 and 2019 but rejected in the local authority’s annual budget following huge public opposition – and concerned parents and members of the public have launched petitions and letter-writing campaigns this this time around.

One person who contacted the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser, asking to remain anonymous, accused the council of trying to impose a closure “by the back door”, saying: “A massive public outcry saved the residential centre from closure after it went to public consultation last time around – this time, detailed plans are being decided upon only one week from when staff were informed.

“The impact closure would have on the young people of North Lanarkshire would be a real shame.”

As well as saving £818,000 per year in pupil attendance subsidies and transport costs, the report outlines that sale of the centre, on a six-acre “prime waterfront” site, could generate £680,000.

It states: “A number of critical challenges have been identified with maintaining the residential model linked to cost, location, flexibility and sustainability.

“Although there is a contribution from parents, current provision [is] heavily subsidised, [typically by] £194 per pupil attendance and £282 for those in receipt of free school meals.

“Ongoing upkeep and capital investment required to maintain the facility is a significant issue – works to the value of £1.985 million have been carried out since 2010-2011 to maintain provision, with an additional £395,000 earmarked pending clarity on the future of the facility.

“The review has confirmed that there are alternative delivery means which could provide better value solutions to North Lanarkshire’s children and communities, whilst also offering a wider range of flexible choice and opening up rich new sources of learning not available at Kilbowie.”

Council leader Jim Logue told the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser:“The council has refused to close Kilbowie in the past; the overarching statement is that pressure is on to look at savings, and things that wouldn’t have been considered in the past are up for consideration.”

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The council is fully committed to quality outdoor education. A review of current provision was commissioned and a report will be considered by councillors which sets out options.

“While we recognise Kilbowie provides great experiences for our pupils, the facility is expensive to maintain and, because of the necessity to allocate groups to specific weeks, some can have their activities curtailed by weather conditions; and forecast reductions in the council’s revenue budget mean that levels of subsidy provided may no longer be sustainable.

“The council has ambitious plans to develop our own local assets and, should it be decided to close Kilbowie, pupils will still have opportunities for quality outdoor education.”